Flour-sifter



l. F. TRUMBO.

FLOUR SIFTER.

APPLICATION FlLED MAY 25, 1920.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. TRUMBO, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

FLOUR-SIFTER.

.vide a one hand sifter of this character so constructed that all of the parts will operate with substantially more friction and in which the gripping action which operates the agitator is easy requiring very little effort on the part of the user.

Another object is to so construct such a sifter as to cause a uniform flow of the material being sifted at each stroke of the agitator and which will quickly sift the entire contents of the sifter. c

Another object is to provide a sifter of this character which may be cheaply manufactured and sold at a price within the reach of everybody.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specificially pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodimentk of the invention. y

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view taken from the rear of a sifter constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. Qis a side elevation with parts broken out and in section, and,

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment illustrated the sifter embodying this invention comprises a cylindrical container 1 open at both ends as is customary with sifters of this character and having the usual pouring lip 2. A hollow handle 3 projects laterally from the rear wall thereof and a shaft 4 extends transversely across the container 1 andV longitudinally through the handle 3 with its outer end headed as shown at 3 to holdit against longitudinal movement in one direction. Mounted on the shaft 4 within the container 1 is an agitator 5 composed of a plurality of longitudinally curved spaced rods or wires Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 001;, 26, 1920,

Application filed May '25, 1920. SeralNo. 384,061.

6 any desired numberof which may be employed three being here shown. These wires are connected at their ends by collars 7 which are carried by the shaft 4 adjacent the opposed side walls ofthe container 1 as is shown clearly in Fig. 2. A screen 8 is arranged in the container 1 below the agitator in close proximity thereto and is curved to conform to the curvature of the agitator to provide for a scraping movement of the mesheswith a vertically reciprocatory rack bar 10 mounted in a tube l11 secured to the outer face of the container 1, this tube 11 has an opening12 in one side thereof so that the teeth of the rack bar may mesh with the gear 9. This rack bar as shown is in the form of a rod having a laterally extending arm 13 at its lower end. An extension 14 projects forwardly from the free end of the arm` 13 and has its terminal mounted in a depending bracket 15 carried by the outer end of the handle 3. This bracket 15 as here shown is in the form of a wire loop although obviously it may be of any other desired construction.

The arm 13 of the rack bar lies adjacent the outer face of the container 1 while its extension 14 projects radially from said container in a plane below and parallel with the handle 3 and has mounted thereon a sleeve 16 preferably constructed of wood or other suitable material to provide for gripping of the device without injury to the hand of the user.

The inner end of the handle 3 carries a housing 17 to form a chamber in which the gear 9 operates, the inner end of the handle 3 operating to hold the gear in operative position on the shaft 4 as is shown clearly in Fig. 2.

In the use of this device the roller or sleeve 16 and the handle 3 are gripped by Ahand of thev user and by compressing the lroller 16 its journal 14 will move inwardly in the loop-shaped bracket 15 thereby causing the agitator to move a partial revolution over the screen 8. A coil spring 18 connects the lower end of the rack bar 11 with the container and operates to turn the rack bar after it has been forced upwardly by pressure exerted on the member 16. It

will thus be obvious that the compression of the member 16 will operate to move the rack bar upwardly in the tube Y11 and owing to the intermeshing engagement of its teeth with the gear 9 will rotate said gear and turn the shaft l and as soon as pressure is released on the member 16 the spring 18 will return the rack to normal position.

The oscillatory movement imparted to the agitator 5 will effect an even {iow of material through the screen.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings 4and set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that any modification within the scope of the claims may be made in the construction without departing from the prin` ciple of the invention or sacricing any of its advantages.

What is claimed is:

l. A sifter of the class described comprising a container having a screening element therein, an agitator movable over said element, a hollow handle projecting laterally from said container, a shaft extending transversely through said container and longitudinally through said handle, said agitator being fixed to said shaft. a gear fixed to said shaft outside said container, a tubular casing mounted on said container adjacent said gear and having an opening in its side wall facing the gear, a rack bar reciprocable in said casing and meshing with said gear, an arm carried by said bar extending parallel with and spaced from said handle, a spring connected to retract said bar, said arm thereof being compressible against the tension of said spring to project the bar.

2. ln a sitter of the class described, a container having a screening element therein, an agitator in said container above said element, actuating means for said agitator comprising a vertically reciprocable rack having an L-shaped extension projecting laterally from one end, the short arm of said extension being connected with said rack, and its long arm extended outwardly from the container, a coiled spring connected with the container and with said rack to move said rack in one direction, and a handle extending laterally from the container parallel with the long arm of said rack extension.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature hereto.

JAMES F. TRUMBO. 

